Expert: Dean Gade - 11/1/2006

Question
I notice that many mainline churches do not have two services on Sunday while other Evangelical churches do.  Would you happen to know when and where the protestant church first started having two services on Sundays?  

Answer
There are several reasons for congregations having two services on Sunday.  

One of them is growth. This has been going on for centuries.   Rather than add on to the building's size to accomodate more people, a second (or more) services are held.

Another is language.  In the early years of the last century as immigrant communities began to speak English in their churches,  there were still some who were more comfortable with their "native" tongue. So both languages were used in different services.
 Even in the middle of the last century my father (a preacher) would have one service in German once a month.

Another reason is the variety of worship services.  Many protestant congregations have people who want to worship with the traditional liturgies with an organ and people who desire to use contemporary Christian music with drums, guitars and keyboards.